anne lacaton & anna heringer speak during milan arch week 2022

milano arch week 2022 gives a taste of the 5th edition 2023

Milano Arch Week, the event dedicated to architecture, urban transformations and the future of cities presented two days of conferences and round tables as a preview of the fifth edition, which will be held in spring 2023. Entitled “Waiting for Peripheries”, the event was intended as an opportunity to take stock of the social and cultural forces of the city to open a collective reflection on the theme of the peripheries. 2021 Pritzker Prize Winner Anne Lacatonand Anna Heringerwinner of the 2020 Obel Prize and promoter of sustainable architecture, were invited to inaugurate and give in-depth presentations through selections of their most remarkable projects.

leading figures of international architecture Anne Lacaton and Anna Heringer were the protagonists of Arc Week 2022

image courtesy of Milano Arch Week 2022

Under the artistic direction of Stefano Boeri, president of the Triennale Milano, Arch Week 2022 welcomed two personalities from international architecture: Anne Lacatonfounder of Lacaton & Vassal Architects, winner of the 2021 Pritzker Prize, and Anna Heringerwinner of the 2007 Aga Khan Award for Architecture and the 2020 Obel Prize. As in previous editions, the vernissage took place at the Politecnico di Milano on September 26, while on September 27 the day was devoted to discussions and debates in-depth at the Triennale on the transformation of the Italian host city.

anne lacaton & anna heringer speak during milan arch week 2022
The 96 dwellings of Anne Lacaton, Chalon-sur-Saône / Prés-Saint-Jean, 2016 | image © Philippe Ruault

anne lacaton explains the benefits of building transformation

Anne Lacaton, founder of Lacaton & Vassal Architectes, opened the two days of the event with a detailed and above all in-depth presentation on the importance of transforming social housing, not demolishing it. With projects prominently in France, but also in Switzerland, Belgium and Denmark, the renowned architect has guided the public through the socio-political, architectural and personal factors that determine such life-changing decisions.

“We decided to study the question of demolition very carefully. The transformation of the existing is crucial and is part of the solution towards a better city. Even more, it is about facing the global climate changes that we are facing and for this, continuing to find valid solutions. For example, it is not enough to add insulation around the existing structure, but rather to increase and elevate the quality of life inside as well,” begins the architect Anne Lacaton.

anne lacaton & anna heringer speak during milan arch week 2022
“the transformation of the existing is crucial and is part of the solution towards a better city”, declares Anne Lacaton | image © designboom

In Bordeaux, France, the transformation of the 530 housing units (see below) consists of 3 inhabited social buildings, initially built in the early 1960s. The overall general economy of the project was based on the choice to keep the existing building without make major interventions on the structure. Extensive research led to the addition of winter gardens and extended balconies, which allowed each apartment to enjoy more natural light, more fluidity of use and much more panoramic views of the city. This approach allowed the energy to be concentrated on generous extensions up to 3.80m deep, leading to an overall spatial increase of 55% for the entire building.

“This transformation has been a long study. We proposed to increase the size of these dwellings, but without additional construction. When you remove dwellers from their space, they never come back, as the building process can take a very long time. Then, after a few years, three years, four years, people who have families have rebuilt their lives elsewhere, so they have decided to stay there. As architects, we have the ability to design construction in a way that does not interfere with people’s lives. And what is really great is that even UNESCO has included this district in the protection perimeter – it is proof of the recognition of the value of this change”, adds the Architect.

anne lacaton & anna heringer speak during milan arch week 2022
the transformation of 530 housing units, blocks G, H, I | pictures © Philippe Ruault

Also developed in the 1960s, the 96 housing units in Chalon-sur-Saône in Prés-Saint-Jean, France, began their transformation with an elevation of 4.50m above the natural ground. In order to avoid flooding below, construction was limited to the columns and platforms of the stairs and elevators, minimizing the footprint, while allowing vegetation to thrive below. As dwellings grew, the cost of living remained constant while the quality of life increased exponentially, giving each dwelling a closer relationship with nature.

“Our challenge here was to respect nature and the landscape while raising the blocks to 4.50 m from the ground. We kept construction to a minimum without bringing in huge trucks as we didn’t want to disturb any wildlife or trees. Here, through the sustainable master plan, the architecture itself supports the place while connecting it to the design,’ explains Anne Lacaton.

anne lacaton & anna heringer speak during milan arch week 2022
96 housing units, Chalon-sur-Saône / Prés-Saint-Jean, 2016 | pictures © Philippe Ruault

‘Never demolish, subtract, remove or replace. always add, transform and use with and for the inhabitants”, concludes Anne Lacaton in her last slide.

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